A town law forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages within 3,000 feet of another liquor retailer.

Walt Wylot, whose Peter's Package Store is about a block from the supermarket, is pressing the zoning board to deny the application.

Leonard Jacobs, the lawyer representing Shaw's, declined to say whether the company would drop its plans to sell beer or appear before the board at a later date.

Wylot expressed some satisfaction Wednesday. He said he expects the supermarket will return with a new application, but he thinks the delay suggests that Shaw's realizes the law is on his side.

Wylot said several customers and other package store owners have expressed support for him. ``I think the smaller businessmen don't like the idea of big business coming in and telling them what to do and rewriting the laws,'' he said.